Air humidifier



R. W. HARDIE AIR' HUMIDIFIER Filed sept. 221, 1926 June 19`, 1928.

Patented dune 19, 1928.

U N il T fJ ST ROBERT W. HRDIE, 0F FAN WOOD, NEW JERSEY ME HUMIDIFIER.

Application led September 241, 1926. Serial No. 137,584.

This invention relates to means for increasin the relative humidity/ofan indoor atmosphere by adding steam or vapor thereto.

The term vapor is used herein in the same sense as that used by heatingand ventilating engineers, that is steam, at about, or under, eightounce pressure.

Whensteam above eight ounce pressure is added to an indoor atmosphere,it has a strong tendency to condense near the point of discharge, onobjects adjacent thereto.

Vapor, on the other hand is readily4 absorbed by an indoor atmospherewithout condensing.

But diiiiculties arise in raising vapor from a generator located in .aloase1nent,.to an` upper i'loor, and in carrying the vapor alonghorizontally extending mains or pipes because of its lack of power toreadily overcome atmospheric pressure. i

ln consequence thereof the vapor moves sluggishly, and has a tendency toremain in the generator, and diticulty is' experienced in dischargingthe vapor from the generator, and in carrying it to the place ofdischarge.

This tendency for the vapor, under or Jat eight ounce pressure to remainin the generator, also prevents the production-of vvapor in the desiredquantities.

lf on the other hand vapor can be quickly removed from the generator,and from the surface of the water therein, the quantity of vaporproduced can be largely increased within a given time.

The main objects of the invention are to providemeans for generatingvapor in the most facile, and economical manner, and in the shortesttime possible, and to carry the vapor to the desired place of dischargeas quickly as possible, and enable the vapor to be discharged into anindoor atmosphere, and absorbed without condensation.

'These and other objects of the invention are accomplished by the meanshereinafter described, and illustrated in the .accompanying'drawings,wherein is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention as applied forproducing vapor, but which may be readily changed into a device forproducing and discharging steam into an indoor atmosphere.

It will be understood, however, that changes, alterations andmoditications may be made therein without departing from the invention.

rlfhev accompanying drawing represents a device used in carryin out theinvention, showing a water containing tank having a closed top, and asupporting base in cross section; a gas burner, and pipe connections,

and a vapor/discharge head and pipe connections, in side elevation; andmeans for supplying water to the tank, partly in side elevation andpartly broken away.

As illustrated in the drawings, 1 represents a supporting base,circularin outline, provided with a door 2, and with air inlets 3, andpreferably with a bottom 4, which may be connected with the shell of thebase in any suitable manner as by means of a ange 5 secured to theinturned lower margin 6 of said shell.

The base is also provided with a tubular discharge connection 7 topermit the products ot combustion to pass out of the intel rior of saidbase., v f

The water tank 8 may be4 supportedv upon a base or support of anysuitable construction, but as shown in the drawings, the Harige 9 of thebottom 10 of the tank and the adjacent portion of said bottom, bear uponand-engage the upper margin of the base 1.

The water inlet pipe 11 is connected with the bottom of the .tank andwith a branch 12, which is connected with a discharge valve 13 and witha pipe 14' leading to a water bowl 15.

This water bowl isprovided with an inlet valve, and a float 16 ofordinary construction.

The inlet valve is connected. with the water suppl of a house lby meansof a nipple 17, in t e usual manner.

By means of such construction, water from a source of supply isfurnished to the bowl in the usual manner.l

When the device is in use, the valve 13 is kept closed, but when it isdesired to withdraw the water from the interior of the tank the valve isopened and the water discharged therefrom. l

' A stud or bar 18 is secured to the bottom or lower head of the tank,and is connected at its lower end with a gas burner 19 by means of a T20 or otherwise. The burner 19 is connected with the gas supply pipe ofa house by means of piping 21.

Such construction rovides edective means for holding the gas urner inproper position relative to `the lower head of the tank, and at a properdistance therefrom, and permits the parts to be quickly and accuratelyassembled.

The gas supply piping 21 is provided with a lhand operated cock 22, ofany suitable or Ordinar construction. Said piping -is .also prefera lyprovided with a gas tothe burner.

li do not desire'to be-limited to a gas cock as a gas 'pressure controlor governor for regulating and controlling the desired maxlrnum quantityofl gas to the burner.

Any other known device having the capability of so doing, may be usedinstead of ysaid cock if desired.

Irlihe quantity of gas to be supplied to the burner 19 depends upon thequantity' of water within the tank, and the temperature at which vit isdesired to ymaintain the water, and the qantity of vaporor steam desiredto be disc arged.

By using two valves, the valve 23 with its squarey head may be set bymeans of a wrench, and not by the fingers of the hand. The valve 22 maybe operated by hand, and kept wide open if desired when `the device isin operation, ande'ntirely closed when the is used.

device is not in operation, and need not be adjusted every time the gasis turned od', as would be the case if only the valve 22 A T 24: orother suitable means, is connected with the upper head of'the'tank, 'andsuitable piping 25 is connected with said T, and with a discharge head,which is de- Y so' signed to be located on the first floor of abuilding, while thev apparatus itself is del signed to be located in abasement.

lin the construction shown, the discharge head consists of a supportingmember 26 gas pressure vcontrol or governor, 1n the form of a gasnominee preferably having a threaded cbnnection with the piping 25,'andwith tubular sections 27 which are closed at their outer ends tiallystraight longitudinal lines, and thereby reduce frictional resistance tothe passage of the vapor, and also provide a smooth unobstructed lower.inner surface to permit the water of condensation that forms in thedischarge'head to readily pass back 4into the interior of the tank. v

rlhe upper head of the tank is also preferably provided with an airinlet, which may be of any desired construction, but as shown hereinconsists of a threaded opening provided with a short nipple 29 and awire screen., or perforated disk 30, placed I.upon the end of the nipplewith an open cap 81 having a threaded engagement with the n1pple 29 andprovided withan inner flange engaging the outer margin 'of the disk 30and the upper end of the nipple 29.

ll have discovered that if the temperature of the water within the tankis maintained discharge head in another room, vapor will pass up throughthe pi e that happens to be the warmer, and out through the dischargehead connected with that pipe, and no vapor will lpass out through theother pipe connected with the upper end of the tank.

ll have also discovered thatif but one of the openlngs formed intheupper head of the tank is provided with a discharge head, anddlscharge pipe, and the other opening 1s closed with a plugas shown inLetters Patent granted to me June 16, 1925, Number 1,542,696, and thewater in the tank is maintalned at 210 F. or Lower, the vapor will notpass freely from the interior of the tank through the discharge-pipe anddischarge head, the vapor will pass out sluggishly, and clogl up theinterior 'of the tank.

Therefore I use one of the openings in the upper end of the tank as anair inlet.

In such construction air passes into the interior of the tank throughsaid opening and across the interior of the tank, thereby creating `acirculation of air within the tank that forcs the vapor from od the a/ndpermits the production of vapor to be p increased within a given timeand discharges the vapor quickly into the atmospherefrom the' interior"of the tank.

ltf more than one discharge pipe or head is desired, the plug shownconnected with the i "l" 24 may be removed, and'one or more disyiocharge pipes and heads be connected with said T.

When it is desired to use the device for producing steam above eightounce pressure, thevent 29 is closed by means of a plug or otherwise.

The only Way the relative humidity of an indoor atmosphere can beincreased is, by adding vapor of Water thereto.

@ne of the greatest problems to be solved in so doing consists indevising means or methods for delivering the vapor of Water into anindoor atmosphere in such a manner and in such condition that the vaporwill be readily and quickly absorbed by such an atmosphere, and notcondense on objects in the immediate vicinity| of the place ofdischarge.

'llo accomplish that end the general practice heretofore followed hasbeen to first mix the vapor with a relatively small quantity of air, topartially diduse the vapor, and then deliver the mixed vapor and airinto the indoor atmosphere.

Various methods and means have been em# ployed for so doing. lin someinstances vapor is mixed with a preliminary quantity of air at the sametime the vapor is produced, and in other instances the vapor after beingproduced is discharged into an enclosure,

box or fine that serves as a mixing chamber and from there deliveredinto the indoor atmosphere.

One of the' results produced by the present invention is that vapor isthereby discharged directly into an indoor atmospi re in such a mannerand in such condition as not to require such preliminary mixing of thevapor with air and at the same time avoiding condensation.

In order to discharge vapor into an indoor atmosphere without'preliminary mixture of the vapor and air, the vapor is produced, by thepresent invention, from water heated at a temperature not higher than212 F. and at atmospheric pressure.

' Vapor' so produced is not heavily laden with water and is readilyabsorbed by an indoor atmosphere without any mixing with air.

Mechanical devices are required to provduce the vapor, but they can notordinarily be located in the rooms of a house or build- -Means musttherefore be employed to carry the vapor when produced, from the.

prehminary lace where the generating apparatus is located to the placeof discharge. 1

Vapor developed at atmospheric pressure and at a water temperature ofnot more than 212J F. has no carrying power of itself and no pressureback of it. It remains sluggish on, and over, the surface of the water,and by blanketing the Water prevents new vapor from readily arising fromthat surface. It can not lift itself from the basement of a buildingwhere the generator is placed to a 'loor above, nor can it flowlaterally in the basement.

lf the vapor is developed under pressure greater than that of atmosphereand from Water at a higher temperature than 212c F., it hascarryingpower by virtue of the pressure back of it, and can travelvertically and laterally. But that is steam and not vapor as the termsare used herein, and the steam is laden with grains of water to such anextent that it Will condense on objects near the place of its discharge,and therefore is not in tit condition to be absorbed in an indooratmosphere.

-When the device is in operation, the upper portion of the tank and thedischarge pipe connected therewith become heated by the water in thetank, the air within the discharge pipe then becomes heated and rises,thereby inducing an upward flow of air and vapor within the pipe.

Air from outside then enters the tank, through the inlet opening, andpasses across the surface of the Water in the tank carrying the vaporfrom ofi' the surface of the water and up through said pipe and out ofthe discharge head, thereby permitting new vapor to arise freely andquickly from the surface of the water. v

As the air and vapor pass through the discharge pipe and head a slightrise of pressure is produced in the pipe and head, by means of therestricted openings in the discharge head, thereby aiding in carryingthe vapor vertically from the tank in the basement to a floor above, orlaterally as may be desired.

In the construction shown herein the tank 8 is shown supported upon thecasing of the combustion chamber.

That, however, is not an essential feature of the invention, and anyother suitable meallns may be employed for supporting the tan What Iclaim as new is: 1. An air humidifier comprising a closed Watercontaining tank provided with an air inlet and a vapor discharge outlet,a discharge pipe connected with said outlet, a discharge head rovidedWith restricted apertures connected With said discharge pipe, means forsupplying water to said tank, and

means for heating said water.

' 2. An air humidier comprising .a closed Water containing tank providedvvlth an air inlet on one side of the axial line of said l tank, and avapor discharge outlet on the `let, a discharge pipe connected with saidoutlet, a discharge head provided with restricted apertures connectedwith said discharge pipe, means for supplying Water to said tank, and

means for heating said Water.

4. An air humidifier comprising a closed` Water containing tank providedWith an air` charge opening vand' an air inlet, means for `maintaining alconstant quantity of Water inlet having a shield detachablyl connectedtherewith, and avapor discharge outlet, a discharge pipe connected withsaid outlet, a discharge head provided with restricted aperturesconnected with said discharge pipe, means for supplying Water to saidtank, and means for heating said Water. y J

` 5. An lair humidifier comprising a closed Y Water containingv tankprovided With an air f structed lower inner surface and axially adinlet,opening directly/into the atmosphere, and a vapor discharge opening,means connected With said discharge opening for connecting a pluralityof discharge pipes with said opening, a discharge pipe connected Withsaid means, a discharge head provided With restricted discharge openingsconnected with said discharge pipe, means for supplying Water to saidtank and means for heatingsaid Water.

6. An air humidiiercomprising a closed Water containing tank having avapor discharge opening, a dischargepipe connected with said opening, adischarge head connected with said pipe comprisinga supporting memberand horizontally extending apertured tubular members, having anunobjustable on said supporting member, means for supplying Water tosaid tank, and means for heating said Water.

7. An air humidiier comprising aclosed Water containing tank having a-vapor disy charge opening, adischarge pipe connected with said opening,a discharge head comprising a T connected'with said restricteddischarge, pipe and horizontally extending tubular members having closedends and athreaded connection with said T, and provided with restrictedapertures and with a closed uninterrupted inner under surface, means forsupplying Water to said tank, and means for heating said Water.

8. An air humidifier comprising a closed water containing tank having avapor dis-,

charge opening, a discharge pipe connected With said opening, adischarge head connected Wtih said discharge pipe and comprisinghorizontally arranged distributing members provided with restricteddischarge apertures, andan uninterrupted lower inner surface, means forsupplying Water to said tank and means for heating said Water.

9. An air humidifier comprising a closed Water containing tank having avapor discharge opening and an air inlet, means for maintaining aconstant quantity of Water Within said tank, a gas burner beneath saidtank, a pipe connection leading from said `burner to a source of gassupply, and means Within said connection for controlling and governingthe maximum quantity of gas supplied to said burner.

10. An air humidifier comprising a closed Water containing tank having avapor disand maintaining a maximum pressure of the` gas supplied to saidburner,l and -a shut on' cock in said connection for opening and closingsaid connection.

11.-"l`he method of humidifying air, consisting in maintainin a constantquantity ot Water Within `a close container, converting said water intovapor by applying a heating element thereto While maintaining the waterat a temperature not exceeding 212 F., causing a current o air to passfrom outside into said container and mix with said vapor, conductingsaid air and vapor through a conduit, and'delivering said air and vapor:from said conduit'into the atmosphere in restricted quantities. y

12. The method of humidifying' air consisting in maintaining a constantquantity into the atmosphere in restricted quantities.

13. The method of humidifying .air consisting in maintaining a constantquantity of water Within a closed container, convert-` ing said Waterinto vapor by the lapplicationk of a heating element thereto whilemaintaining the Water ata temperature not exceeding 212 F., causing acurrent of'air to pass from outside into said container and mix withsaid vapor, conducting said air and vapor through a conduit anddelivering said ing the Water into vapor by applying a gas heatingelement thereto, controlling the 10 maximum quantity of gas applied tosaid Water, while permitting variations in'. quantity of gas suppliedbelow said maximum,

causing a current of-air to pass from outside into said container andmix with said .Vapon leading a quant-ity of said nnxed a1r and `vaporthrough a conductor to a place of dis.

charge, and discharging said vapor and Water into the atmosphere inrestricted quantities.

ROBERT Wi' HARDIE.

